Method of making a memory storage device

ABSTRACT

A wiring apparatus including a control console having means for receiving a programmed series of instructions and a wiring machine electrically controlled by the console and having means for moving a fixture below a reciprocally movable head carrying a tube through which a continuous wire is paid out onto the fixture, said fixture having means for guiding the wire through core positions and across terminal pads carried on the fixture.

United States Patent 1 1 Bennett et al. 1 Nov. 6 1973 [54] METHOD OFMAKING A MEMORY 1,908,272 /1933 Sommcr 29/593 STORAGE DEVICE 2,319,4135/1943 Lcathcrs 29/593 X 3,541,681 11/1970 Hauerbach 29/604 [75]Inventors: Har d W- n g 3,231,967 2/1966 Kreinberg C131... 29 203 BBarry E. Richards, Marlboro, both 3,435,858 4/1969 Tayson et a1. 140/921Of Mass. 3,440,719 4/1969 Meier 29/604 3,389,461 6/1968 Hardardt 29/604X Asslgneei flaytheofl Company, Lexmgtom 3,460,245 8/1969 Hazel 61 al29/604 ass.

[ Filed: 1971 Primary ExaminerCharles W. Lanham 21 A L 185 645 AssistantExaminer-Carl E l lall l 1 pp Attorney-Harold A. Murphy et a1.

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 837,628, June 30,1969, Pat. No.

3,619,884. [57] ABSTRACT [52] U S Cl 29/604 29/203 MM 29593 A wiringapparatus including a control console having 140/93 242/7 03 242/7 meansfor receiving a programmed series of instruc- [51] Int Cl in 7/'06 tionsand a wiring machine electrically controlled by [58] Fie'ld 203 R theconsole and having means for moving a fixture 29/203 MW 03 7 7 below areciprocally movable head carrying a tube 7 l8 7 through which acontinuous wire is paid out onto the fixture, said fixture having meansfor guiding the wire 5 6] References Cited through core positions andacross terminal pads carried on the fixture. UNITED STATES PATENTS3,439,087 4/1969 Ledeen 29/604 X 2 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures m9 /78 m97 I I80 a m 1 t /70 /73 mg m? m? m? u? //68 PATENTED NOV 6 i975 SHEET l0F 5 METHOD OF MAKING A MEMORY STORAGE DEVICE This is a division of US.Pat. application Ser. No. 837,628 filed June 30, 1969 now US. Pat. No.3,619,884.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is related generally tomemory storage devices and, more particularly, is concerned with atechnique for winding wires through the core positions of a data plane.

A fixed memory storage unit usually comprises a stack of memory planes,each having a plurality of magnetic elements symmetrically disposed in arespective layer of dielectric material. In many fixed memory units, themagnetic elements are circular or squareshaped cores of ferritematerial, each forming a closed magnetic path around a respectivecentral aperture. The plurality of ferrite cores in a memory plane forma symmetrical array of bistable memory cells, each capable of beingswitched from one magnetic remanence state to the other. Generally, theferrite cores of a fixed memory plane are selectively threaded by aplurality of electrical conductors, called drive lines, which combine toform wire braid that weaves between the coordinate core positions of thesymmetrical array. Each ferrite core threaded by a particular drive linemay be switched by a current pulse, of suitable magnitude, passingthrough that drive line in the proper direction. In fixed memory unitsof the braided-wire type, each ferrite core in a memory plane isprovided with a sense winding which generally comprises several turns ofwire around a portion of the core periphery. When a ferrite core isswitched, as described, sufficient magnetic flux is generated in thecore to induce a voltage pulse in the sense winding coupled to the core.Thus, each memory cell in the symmetrical array functions as a pulsetransformer with a drive line serving as a single turn primary, thesense winding representing the secondary and the ferrite core providingthe flux linkage therebetween.

In a fixed memory unit, a data word is stored in a group of cores, eachcore in the group usually representing one character in the word. In afixed memory plane of the braided-wire type, a plurality of word drivelines share the same group of cores. Each drive line is threadedselectively through some cores and bypassed around other cores of thegroup in a winding pattern unique to the respective drive line. When adata word is retrieved from the fixed memory unit, a current pulse ofsuitable magnitude is sent through the associated drive line in theproper direction. The cores that are threaded by that particular driveline are switched and the bypassed cores in the associated group remainunchanged. Generally, a switched core represents a stored binary digit1, and a bypassed core represents a stored binary digit 0. Thus, thedata word is read out of the group of cores by the presence or absenceof an induced voltage pulse in the respective sense windings coupled tothe cores of the group. Therefore, in a fixed memory plane ofbraided-wire type, a data word is stored in the geometry of theassociated word drive line rather than in the magnetic remanence statesof the respective cores in the associated group. Consequently, aplurality of winding patterns are required in order to assign a uniquewinding pattern to each word drive line in the wire braid of the fixedmemory plane.

A number of machines have been developed for automatically winding wiresthrough a plurality of ferrite cores symmetrically disposed in adielectric board. However, most of these prior art machines are highlycomplex and unsuitable for production line operation. The task ofwinding wires through the cores of a memory plane has been easedsomewhat by the development of a ferrite core having a removableportion, called a keeper." During the winding process, the keepers areremoved thereby providing openings through which the wires may pass whenthreading the respective cores of the memory'plane. However, winding abraided wire, fixed memory unit is still complicated by the wide varietyof winding patterns required for the plurality of drive lines in eachmemory plane. Furthermore, the identity of each drive line must bemaintained throughout the winding process to insure that each driveline, subsequently, will be connected to the proper terminal of thememory plane. In order to thread as many drive lines as possible throughthe respective core apertures, the wire used for winding the drive lineshas a diameter on the order of 0.003 of an inch, and the coating ofinsulation on the surface of the wire is only about 0.001 of an inchthick. Locating a broken or shorted drive line in the wire braid offixed memory unit is virtually impossible. Consequently, if a fixedmemory unit of the braided-wire type develops a short-circuit or anopen-circuit in one of the drive lines, the unit usually is discarded.Therefore, it is imperative that the wiring apparatus used in themanufacture of braided-type, fixed memory planes does not weaken thedrive lines to the point of breaking and does not produce openings inthe insulated coating on the respective drive lines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, this invention provides a wiringapparatus comprising a control console having sub-units which receive,read, and decode a set of programmed instructions and a wiring machineelectrically controlled by the console, said machine having a continuouswire feeding from a suitably tensioned spool through a hollow tube in areciprocally movable, jogging head and onto a fixture which is carriedon a coordinately movable table below the jogging head. The fixturecomprises a base plate, a superimposed sheet of dielectric materialhaving opposing rows of equally spaced terminal pads disposed on theupper surface of the sheet, a centrally disposed, symmetrical array ofcore posts and a plurality of smooth-surface guideposts disposed on thefixture where changes in the winding direction are required. Each corepost comprises an upright peg having a threaded end journalled into thebase plate, a dielectric collar encircling a reduced diameter portion ofthe peg and a surrounding sleeve of smoothsurfaced, dielectric material.The winding process com prises the steps of continuously windingsuccessive drive lines, passing portions of each drive line overintended termination points, testing the continuously wound wire forelectrical continuity, attaching portions of each drive line torespective underlying terminal pads, and removing the respective lengthsof wire that interconnect the respective drive lines. The final productcomprises a data plane including a layer of dielectric material havingopposing extended portions which support respective rows of equallyspaced terminal pads, an array of holes extending perpendicularly BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING For a better understanding of this invention,reference is made to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the wiring apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1looking in the direction of the arrows:

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the table and fixture shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, taken alonglines 4-4 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the fixture shown with a potting frameattached thereto;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the fixture shownin FIG. 5 after the potting frame is removed;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a memory plane using the data plane ofthis invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, elevational view, partly in section, on one coreposition in the memory plane shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the jogging head shown in FIG. 1 with aside cover removed;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the indexing mechanism shown in FIG. 9;and

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the electrical connections between thecontrol console and various components of the wiring machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing whereinlike characters of reference designate like parts throughout the severalviews, there is shown in FIG. 1, a wiring apparatus which includes awiring machine and an electrically connected control console 22. Thecontrol console 22 is provided with a programmed magnetic tape 24 or aset of coded index cards 26 which are fed automatically into respectivereading devices. The resulting electrical signals are fed into a decoderunit 27 which sends corresponding electrical signals through aninterconnecting electrical cable 29 to the wiring machine 20 forcontrolling the machine during the wiring process. The wiring machine 20comprises a base 28 having a cross slide 30 on the upper surface thereofwhich supports a slidable carriage 32. The carriage 32 is connectedmechanically to an internal lead screw (not shown) which is attached atone end to the shaft of an electrical motor 34. When motor 34 isenergized by an electrical signal from the control console 22, the shaftof motor 34 rotates the lead screw and moves the carriage 32 along thecross slide 30 in the Y direction of the winding operation. A bed orchannel 36 in carriage 32 supports a slidable table 38 which ismechanically connected to another electrical motor 40 by means ofanother internal lead screw (not shown). Electrical signals from thecontrol console 22 energize the motor 40 and rotate the attached leadscrew to move the table 38 along the channel 36 in the X direction ofthe winding operation. A crank handle 42 which is fixedly attached to ashaft rotatably supported in the base 28 may be turned manually to raiseor lower the table 38. The carriage 32 is locked in place, whennecessary, by turning a lever 44 which is secured to a rotatable shaftprotruding from the carriage 32.

Behind the movable table 38, a support column 46 extends from the base28 and terminates in a right angle surface 48 which is located in aplane above the table 38. Disposed on the surface 48 is a cup-shapedcontainer 50 having a spool of wire 52 therein. The wire 52, generally,is made of flexible, conductive material, such as copper, for example,having a diameter of about 0.003 of an inch and is coated with a thinfilm of insulating material, such as varnish, for example, which usuallyis about 0.001 of an inch thick. The wire 52 extends from the spool incontainer 50 through an eyelet 54 and a conventional tensioning device56 which is supported above the container 50 by an arm 58 which ispivotally attached to a column 59. The wire 52 is directed downwardtoward the table 38 after passing through a length of flexible tubing 60and a metallic sleeve 62 carried in a jogging head 64. The flexibletubing 60 prevents abrasion of the insulation on the wire 52 as itpasses through an aperture in a projecting arm of L-shaped bracket 66which supports the tubing 60 and is attached at the opposite end to thehousing 65 of jogging head 64. As shown more clearly in FIG. 9, themetal sleeve 62 extends vertically downward through the jogging headhousing 65 and terminates below the housing in a chuck 68 which holds ahollow needle 70 in spaced, perpendicular relationship over the table38. The wire 52 passes through thehollow needle 70 and emerges from alength of flexible tubing 72 which is force-fitted onto the lower end ofneedle 70. The tubing 72 acts as a flexible nozzle which bends easilywhen the wire 52 changes direction during the winding process, therebypreventing abrasion of the wire against the circular rim of needle 70.

Referring to FIG. 9 and 10, in ajogging head housing 65, an air cylinder74 is supported in parallel, spaced relationship with the metal sleeve62 by two mounting brackets 76 and 78 respectively. Protruding from theupper end of air cylinder 74 is a centrally disposed piston shaft 80which extends through an aperture (not shown) in the housing 65. Theexternal end of shaft 80 is attached to one end of a perpendicularlydisposed bar 82 which is secured at the opposite end to the metallicsleeve 62. Compressed air enters the cylinder 74 through a supply line84 located at the base of the cylinder and produces an upwardly directedforce on piston shaft 80 which is transmitted through the bar 82 to themetallic sleeve 62. The sleeve 62 is slidably supported in bearings 61and 63, respectively, and as a result of the upwardly directed force onsleeve 62, a roller 86 mounted on the sleeve 62 bears against theperiphery of a heart-shaped cam 88. The cam 88 is secured to one end ofshaft 89 which is fixedly attached to the central portion of a ratchetgear 90 whereby gear 90 rotates the cam 88 in small angular increments.The ratchet gear 90 is locked in place by an intermeshing notch 92 in aprojecting portion of an arm 94 which is rotatably supported at theopposite end by means of a pin shaft 96. The notch 92 is urged toward aninterlocking tooth on the periphery of ratchet gear 90 by a compressionspring 98 having one end inounted on the arm 94 and an opposite endsecured to a fixed support bracket 100. A pawl 102 is pivotallysupported at one end by a pin 104 in arm 94 and, at the opposite end, ispressed against a tooth of ratchet gear 90. The pawl 102 is held againstthe periphery of ratchet gear 90 by a tension spring 106 having one endattached to the pawl 102 and the other end attached to arm 94. A rightangle plate 108 extends from the arm 94 into closespaced, parallelrelationship with an exposed end 110 of a magnetically permeable core ina solenoid 112. By means of electrical conductors 113 in cable 111,electrical signal pulses from the control console 22 energize thesolenoid 112 periodically during the wiring operation. Consequently, theplate 108 of rotatable arm 94 is magnetically attracted toward theexposed end 110 of the core in solenoid 112 and rotates arm 94 therebycompressing spring 98. Rotation of arm 94 withdraws the notch 92 and thepawl 102 from engagement with the teeth of ratchet gear 90. Ananti-backlash leaf spring 114 having one end fixedly attached to supportbracket 100 maintains a pressure against the periphery of ratchet gear'90 at the opposite end to prevent the gear 90 from turning whiledisengaged from the pawl 102 and the notch 92. The tension spring 106pulls the disengaged end of pawl 102 downward into alignment with thenext tooth in clockwise rotation around the gear 90. When the solenoid112 is deenergized by the control console 22, the compression spring 98drives the rotatable arm 94 toward the gear 90 and the pawl against thenewly aligned tooth of the ratchet gear. Consequently, the gear 90rotates a small increment in the counter-clockwise direction and thenotch 92 interlocks with a newly aligned tooth on the periphery of theratchet gear 90. As a result, the cam 88 is rotated a small incrementand the roller 86 which is attached to metallic sleeve 62 rises a slightamount. Therefore, the needle 70 which is mounted in the lower end ofmetallic sleeve 62 is drawn away from the movable table 38 to preventthe needle 70 from interfering with the build-up of wire layers duringthe winding process. After the winding process is completed, thesolenoid l 12 is energized repeatedly by a series of electrical currentpulses from the'control console 22. As a result, the ratchet gear 90continues to rotate the attached cam 88 counterclockwise, in successiveangular increments, until the roller 86 is returned to the positionshown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Thus, the needle 70 is lowered toward the table38 until the nozzle 52 is disposed closely adjacent thereto for thestart of the next winding process.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the jogging head 64 is positioned over thecoordinately moving table 38 by two, parallel shafts 116 and 118 whichprotrude from a jogging control unit 120 mounted on the surface 48 ofcolumn 46. The shafts 116 and 118 extend into the housing 122 of joggingcontrol unit 120 and are slidably supported therein by respective rollerbearings 124 and 126. The respective inner ends of the shafts 116 and118 are attached to opposite ends of a metal bar 128 which is secured,at the central portion thereof, to a shaft 130. The shaft 130 extendsthrough an air cylinder 132, protruding from the opposite end thereof,and is slidably supported at opposite ends of the air cylinder 132 bybearings 134 and 136 respectively which are fixedly attached to thejogging control housing 122. Two air hoses 138 and 140, respectively,are connected to the cylinder 132, one adjacent each end thereof, and

pass through an aperture in housing 122 to connect to respective portsof an externally located valve 142. The valve 142 is an electricallycontrolled type, such as Model VDS-PK, made by the Allenair Corporationof Mineola, New York, which is a double solenoid, twoway valve.Compressed air is supplied to the central portion of the valve through aconnecting hose 144. When an electrical signal from the control console22 energizes a solenoid 146 located on the left side of the valveassembly, the internal valve is positioned to connect the compressed airfrom supply hose ,144 to the hose 138 and to connect the hose to anexhaust port (not shown). Alternatively, when an electrical signal fromthe control console 22 energizes a solenoid 148 located on the rightside of the valve assembly, the internal valve is positioned to connectthe compressed air from supply hose 144 to the hose 140 and to connectthe hose 138 to the exhaust port. Depending on the direction of air flowinto the cylinder 132, an internal piston (not shown) which is carriedon the shaft 130 is driven reciprocally toward one end of the cylinder132. The distance travelled by the piston is very short, generally onthe order of one-half an inch, and this reciprocal motion of the shaft130 is transmitted through the attached bar 128 and the parallel shafts116 and 118 to the jogging head 64. As a result, the jogging head movescorrespondingly short distances in the Y direction during the windingoperation. Respective disks 150 and 152 of resilient material, such asployurethane, for example, are affixed to opposite ends of the shaft 130to butt yieldingly against adjacent surfaces of the jogging controlhousing 122 when the shaft 130 reaches the limit of travel in onedirection or the other. When the disk 150 is pressed against theadjacent surface of housing 122, as shown in FIG. 2, the jogging head issaid to be in the out position. On the other hand, when the disk 152 ispressed against the adjacent wall surface of the housing 122, thejogging head is said to be in the in position. An L-shaped bracket 154is fixedly attached to the inner end of shaft 1 18 and is disposed inspaced, parallel relationship with a bracket 156 which is fixedlyattached to the adjacent wall of housing 122. The plate 156 supports twospaced, parallel reed switches 158 and 160, respectively, and thebracket 148 carries two correspondingly spaced, parallel bar magnets 162and 164 respectively. When the jogging head 64 reaches the out position,as shown in FIG. 2, the bar magnet 162 is disposed in opposingrelationship with the reed switch 158, thereby magnetically closing theswitch 158 to send an electrical signal to the control console 22indicating that the jogging head 64 is in the out position. Conversely,when the jogging head 64 moves reciprocally and reaches the in position,the bar magnet 162 is no longer disposed in opposing relationship withthe reed switch 158 and the switch 158 is open. However, the bar magnet164 is then disposed in opposing, spaced relationship with the reedswitch 160, thereby magnetically closing the switch to send anelectrical signal to the control 7 console 22 indicating that thejogging head 62 is in the in position.

As shown in FIG. 1 l, in control console 22, programmed instructions areread by a tape reader 23 from a program tape 24 or by a card reader 25from a set of coded index cards 26, and the resulting electrical signalsare sent to a decoder unit 27 in the control console 22. In the decoderunit 27, the electrical signals are transformed into suitable electricalinstructions for the various electrically operated components on thewiring machine 20. Thus, the decoder unit 27 allows electrical currentto flow to the motor 40 when the winding operation requires that thetable 38 be moved in the X direction and deenergizes motor 40 when thetable 38 is positioned properly, in the X direction, under the needle70. Similarly, the decoder unit 27 allows electrical current to flow tothe motor 34 when the winding operation requires that the table 38 bemoved in the Y direction and deenergizes motor 34 when the table 38 ispositioned properly, in the Y direction, under the needle 70. Moreover,the decoder unit 27 allows electrical current to flow simultaneously toboth motors 40 and 34, respectively, when the winding operation requiresthat the table 38 move at an angle with respect to the X and Ydirections. As the winding operation proceeds, the decoder unit 27periodically sends an electrical current pulse to the solenoid 112 inthe jogging head 64, thereby raising the needle 70 a discrete distanceabove the table 38 each time the solenoid 112 receives a pulse ofelectrical current, as described previously. At predetermined timesduring the winding process, the decoder unit 27 electrically energizesthe solenoid 146 of valve 142, thereby causing the air cylinder 132 injogging control unit 120 to move the gogging head 64 to the outposition. When the jogging head 64 is in the out position, the reedswitch 158 in the jogging control unit 120 sends an electrical signal tothe decoder unit 27 indicating the correct position of the jogging head64. Also, at preselected times, during the winding process, the decoderunit 27 electrically energizes the solenoid 148 of valve 142 therebycausing air cylinder 132 in jogging control unit 120 to move the jogginghead 64 to the in position. When the jogging head 64 is in the inposition, the reed switch 160 sends an electrical signal to the decoderunit 27 indicating the correct position of the jogging head 64.Alternatively, the movable table 38 and the jogging head 64 may becontrolled by separate programmed means, such as the tape 24 and theindex cards 26 respectively, for example. in that case, the operation ofjogging head 64 may be snychronized with the respective movements oftable 38 by an alignment indicating means (not shown), such as a lightsource and a photoelectric cell, for example.

A fixture 166 is secured to the upper surface of the coordinatelymovable table 38 by conventional means, as by clamps (not shown), forexample. As illustrated more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the fixture 166comprises a base plate 168 of metallic material, such as aluminum, forexample, and a superimposed sheet 170 of dielectric material, such asepoxy glass cloth, for example. Parallel edges 172 and 173,respectively, of the sheet 170 are disposed in the X direction of thewinding operation, thereby orienting the parallel edges 174 and 175 ofsheet 170 in the Y direction. Edges 172 and 173 of sheet 170 arepositioned in spaced, parallel relationship with respective series ofequally spaced holes 176 tapped in the base plate 168. Cylindrical posts178 of metallic material, such as stainless steel, for example, areprovided with respective threaded ends 179 which are journelled intorespective holes 176. Thus, two parallel rows of upright posts 178 areformed and extend in the X direction of the winding process, oneadjacent each of the edges 172 and 173, respectively, of the sheet 170.The posts 178 serve as guides for effecting a change in direction duringthe winding process. The wire 52 winds smoothly around the guideposts178, thereby preventing the formation of sharp bends or kinks whichweaken the wire and ultimately cause open-circuits in the wire braid.The surfaces of the guideposts 178 are polished to a high degree ofsmoothness to avoid removing insulation from the surface of the wire 52and producing a short-curcuit in the final product. A series of equallyspaced pads 180 is disposed on the upper surface of sheet 170 adjacentthe edge 172, and a corresponding series of pads 181 is disposedadjacent the edge 173, each pad lbeing aligned in the Y direction with acorresponding pad 181. The pads 180 and 181 comprise respective thinlayers of metallic material, such as nickel, for example,

which are attached to the sheet by conventional means, such as plating,for example. Each pad and 181, respectively, is centrally aligned in theY direction with a post 178 disposed closely adjacent the associatededge of sheet 170. Adjacent the inner edge of each pad 180 and 181 andcentrally aligned therewith is a respective post 182. Consequently, eachpost 182 is aligned, in the Y direction, with a respective post 178disposed on the opposite side of arespective intervening pad. The posts182 have the same structure and surface finish as the guideposts 178 andserve the same function. Each guidepost 182 is provided with a threadedend 184 which is passed through a respective closely fitting aperture186 in the sheet 170 and is journalled into an aligned hole 188 in thebase plate 168. Thus, two rows of upright guideposts 182 are formedwhich extend in the X direction in spaced parallel relationship with therows of guideposts 178.

Disposed between the two parallel rows of guideposts 182 are fourparallel rows, 191 194 respectively, of core posts 190. Each core postcomprises a cylindrical peg 196 of rigid material, such as plasticcoated steel, for example, which has a reduced diameter portion 198located adjacent a threaded end 200. A collar 202 of dielectricmaterial, such as polystyrene, for example, slidingly engages thereduced diameter portion 198 and has an outer diameter which is lessthan the diameter of peg 196. The threaded end of each peg 196 projectsthrough a respective hole 204 in the sheet 170 and is journalled into analigned hole 206 in the base plate 168. As a result, the collar 202 ispressed into the closely fitting diameter of hole 204 until the leadingedge thereof is flush with the lower surface of the sheet 170. A sleeve208 of smooth dielectric material, such as polyethylene, for example, isslid over the outer diameter of each upright peg 196 until the leadingedge of the sleeve butts against the upper surface of the sheet 170.Thus, the four parallel rows, 191-194 respectively, of core posts 190are formed, each extending in the X direction in parallel, spacedrelationship with one another and with the parallel rows of guideposts178 and 182 respectively. The respective core posts 190 in each row 191194 are equally spaced apart in corresponding relationship, and a corepost 190 in one row is aligned, in the Y direction, with respectivecorresponding core posts 190 in the other rows. Furthermore, therespective core posts in each row 191 194 respectively are equallyspaced in corresponding relationship with the rows of guideposts 182 androws of guidepost 178 adjacent the respective edges 172 and 173 of thesheet 170. Hence, each core post 190 is aligned, in the Y direction witha guidepost 178, a pad 180 and a guidepost 182 on opposite sides of thesheet 170. Thus, it can be seen that the core posts 190, guideposts 178,pads 180 and guideposts 182 are disposed in a symmetrical patternwhereby each position in the symmetrical array can be defined by X and Ycoordinates.

Corresponding core posts 190 in the rows-191 and 192 represent opposingportions of respective magnetic cores in the final assembly.Consequently, core posts 190 of the respective rows 191 and 192 that arealigned in the Y direction define respective magnetic core positions inthe completed assembly. Similarly, core posts 190 of the rows 193 and194 that are aligned in the Y direction, also define respective magneticcore positions in the final product. Thus, the pair of opposing coreposts 190 on the left-hand end of the respective rows 191 and 192represents core position 1, and similar pairs of core posts to the rightthereof are designated as core positions 2, 3, etc. The core position onthe righ-hand end of the respective rows 191 and 192 is designated, inthis case, as core position 6. However, it is to be understood thatadditional core positions can be added by increasing the dimension ofsheet 170 and base plate 168 in the X direction. Because of thecontinuous winding process to be described herein, the core position onthe right-hand end of the respective rows 193 and 194 is designated ascore position 7, and successive core positions to the left thereof aredesignated as 8, 9, etc. The core position on the left-hand end of therespective rows 193 and 194 is designated, in this case, as coreposition 12. However, it is to be understood that additional corepositions can be added by increasing the dimension of sheet 170 and baseplate 168 in the Y direction. Where the wire 52 passes between theparaliel core posts 190 of a core position, 1 12 respectively, themagnetic core disposed in that position at final assembly will bethreaded by the wire 52. Consequently, an electrical signal currenttravelling through the wire will magnetically switch the threaded coreand produce a pulse voltage in the sense winding of the core which willindicate a binary digit 1 for that core position. On the other hand,when the wire 52 does not pass between the parallel core posts 190 of acore position, l-12 respectively, an electrical signal current passingthrough the wire will not switch the bypassed core. consequently, theabsence of a voltage pulse in the sense winding of the bypassed corewill indicate a binary digit for that core position. A guidepost 210 isdisposed in spaced, parallel relationship with the core post 190 on theleft-hand end of row 191, and another guidepost 212 is disposed infurther spaced, parallel relationship with the core post 190 on theright-hand end of row 191. Aligned in the Y direction with the guidepost212 is a guidepost 214 which is also aligned in the X direction with therespective core posts 190 of row 194. On the opposite end of row 194, aguidepost 216 is aligned in the X direction with the respective coreposts 190 of row 194 and in the Y direction with the guidepost 210.Disposed in spaced, parallel relationship with the core post 190 on theright-hand end of row 192 is a guidepost 218 which is aligned in the Xdirection with the respective core posts 190 of row 192. Aligned withthe guidepost 218 in the Y direction is another guide 220 which also isaligned in the X direction with the respective core posts 190 of row193. The respective guideposts 210 220 are similar in structure andappearance to the core posts 190 but perform the same function as theguideposts 178 and 182 respectively.

When operating the described wiring apparatus, a programmed tape 24 or aset of coded index cards 26 is inserted into the appropriate readingdevice of the control console 22. The tape 24 or the set of index cards26 contains the necessary electrical instructions that will be conductedto the wiring machine 20 for winding the wire 52 in a predeterminedmanner. The free end of wire 52 projecting through the flexible nozzle72 of needle is attached to a pad 180 or 181 on the sheet by anyconvenient means, such as with adhesive tape (not shown), for example.In FIG. 3, the free end of the wire 52 is shown attached to the solderpad on the left-hand end of the row adjacent the edge 172 of sheet 170.Electrical signals received from the control console 22 energize theelectrical motor 34 which moves the table in the Y direction.consequently, the fixture 166 attached to the upper surface of table 38moves under the jogging head 64 and the wire 52 is drawn from thecontainer 50, under tension, and through the hollow needle 70. When theneedle 70 is positioned to the right of guidepost 182, adjacent theinner edge of the selected pad 180, the control console sends electricalsignals to the electrical motor 40 which moves the table 38 in the Xdirection and the electrical motor 34 which continues to move the table38 in the Y direction. Consequently, the fixture 166 travels under theneedle 70 at an angle until the guidepost 210 is positioned to the rightof the needle. At this time, the control console 22 sends an electicalsignal to the electrically operated valve 142 which causes the piston inair cylinder 132 to move the jogging head 64 to the out position. Thecontrol console 22 deenergizes the motor 34 which stops further movementof the table 38 in the Y direction and continues to energize the motor40 which moves the table 38 in the X direction under the needle 70carried by the jogging head 64. As a result of the jogging head 64 beingin the out position, the wire 52 paying out of the needle 70 is threadedthrough core positions 1, 2 and 3. Prior to core position 4, the controlconsole 22 energizes the electrically operated valve 142 and causes thejogging head 64 to be moved to the in position, thus bypassing coreposition 4 as the table 38 continues to move to fixture 166 in the Xdirection and under the needle 70. The control console 22 then energizesthe electrically operated valve 142 to move the jogging head 64 to theout" position, and as the table 38 moves the fixture 166 under theneedle 70 and in the X direction, the wire 52 is threaded between theparallel core posts of core position 5. Similarly, the jogging head 64is moved to the in position in order to bypass core position 6. Thus, itis apparent that the electrical motor 40 moves the table 38 steadily inthe X direction under needle 70 while the jogging head 64 movesreciprocally between the in and out positions to thread or bypass thecore positions, 1 12 respectively.

When the needle 70 is positioned to the right of the guidepost 212, thecontrol console 22 deenergizes the electrical motor 40 which stopsfurther movement of the table 38 in the X direction and energizeselectrical motor 34 which moves the table 38 and the attached fixture166 in the Y direction. When the needle 70 is positioned to the right ofthe guidepost 214, the control console deenergizes electrical motor 34and reenergizes electrical motor 40 to move the table 38 in the Xdirection along the respective core posts 190 of row 194. As the fixture166 passes under the needle 70, electrical signals from the controlconsole 22 move the jogging head 64 between the in and out positions tothread core positions 7, 11 and 12 and bypass core positions 8, 9 and10, respectively. When the needle 70 is positioned to the left of theguidepost 216, the control console energizes both motors 34 and 40,respectively, to move the table 38 at an angle until the needle 70 ispositioned, to the right of a guidepost 182. The electrical signals fromthe control console 22 to the motors 34 and 40 are suitably altered tocause the wire 52 to wind smoothly around the right-hand side ofguidepost 182, across the aligned pad 181 and around the lefthand sideof the aligned guidepost 178. This completes the winding of the firstword drive line 222a which, subsequently, will be terminated, at oneend, on the underlying pad 180 and, at the other end, on the underlyingpad 181, as by soldering, for example. However, during the windingoperation, the uninterrupted movement of table 38, in accordance withelectrical signals received from the control console 22, extends thecontinuous wire 52 in the X direction to the next guidepost 178.

After winding around the right-hand side of the next guidepost 178, asecond word drive line 222b is started by passing the wire 52 over thealigned solder pad 181 and around the aligned guidepost 182 to theguidepost 216. The second drive line 222b may thread or bypass therespective core positions 1 12 by travelling along rows 191 and 194 asin the case of the first drive line 222a. Alternatively, the seconddrive line 222b may thread or bypass the respective core positions 1-12by passing along the rows 193 and 192 as shown in FIG. 3. When windingthe second drive line 222b, the electrically operated valve 142 isactuated to move the jogging head 64 to the out position for threadingthe wire 52 through the core positions 12, 10, 9 and to the in positionfor bypassing the core positions 11, 8 and 7. After the wire 52 passesaround the guideposts 220 and 218, the jogging head 64 is moved to thein position to thread the second drive line 222b through core positions6, 4, 3 and 2 and moved to the out" position to bypass core positions 5and 1. The second drive line 222b then passes around the guidepost 210to extend to a guidepost 182 on the right-hand side of the first dirveline 222a. After winding around the guidepost 182, the wire 52 crossesover an aligned pad 180 and extends to an aligned guidepost 178. Similarto the first drive line 222a, the pads 180 and 181 underlying portionsof the second drive line 222b are intended as terminating points foropposite ends of the drive line after the entire winding process iscompleted. The uninterrupted movement of the table 38 under the needle70 results in the wire 52 extending in the X direction to the nextguidepost 178 to the right of drive line 222b. From there a third driveline 2220 is started by the wire 52 widning around the guidepost 178,across the aligned pad 180 and around the aligned guidepost 182. I

Thus, when practicing this invention, a plurality of word drive lines222, each having a unique winding pattern, can be wound successively inone continuous operation until the entire winding process is completed.Each terminal pad is crossed only by the word drive line which will beterminated on the respective pad thus eliminating the need foridentifying the respective ends of each drive line in the wire braid forsubsequent attachment to respective terminal members. This continuouswinding process results in a progressive build-up of wire layers on thefixture 166 as it travels back and forth beneath the needle 70.Consequently, the needle is raised slowly as the winding processproceeds. This is accomplished by inserting a coded instruction, atregular intervals, in the programmed sequence of tape 24 or the indexcards 26 in the control console 22. As explained previously, each timethe solenoid 112 is energized, the needle 70 is raised a small incrementin the vertical direction. Thus, interference of the needle 70 with thebuildup of wire layers on the fixture 166 is avoided. The wire layers onthe fixture 166 form a woven wire braid which comprises a plurality ofword drive lines 222. The word dirve lines 222, shown in FIG. 3,illustrate typical winding patterns which make each word drive lineunique in the braided-type memory unit. The geometry of the first worddrive line 222a permanently stores data represented by the digitalsequence 111010100011, and the geometry of the second word drive line222b permanently stores data represented by the digital sequence 011101001 101. Thus, it can be seen that the wiring apparatus describedherein is adapted to wind a plurality of word drive lines in therequired variety of winding patterns for a braided-type, fixed memoryunit. Changes or corrections can be made in the winding sequence byeither exchanging the tape 24 for another having the required changesprogrammed therein or by changing one or more cards in the set of indexcards 26.

After the winding process is completed, the wire 52 is clipped at thelast guidepost 178 and the entire fixture 166 is removed from the table38 of the wiring machine 20. The continuous wound wire 52 on the fixture166 is given an electrical continuity test to determine if a break hasoccurred in the wire during the winding process. An alternative and morepreferable method is to constantly monitor the continuity of the wire 52during the winding process and to provide means for stopping the wiringapparatus if a break in the wire 52 does occur. If the wound wire 52passes the electrical continuity test, the wire is attached to therespective pads 180 and 181 by conventional means, as by soldering, forexample. The respective lengths of wire 52 between adjacent guideposts178 are clipped at the outer edges of the associated pads and discarded.Thus, each word drive line 222 in the woven wire braid is terminated atone end on a respective pad 180 and at the other end on a respective pad181. At this time, all the guideposts 178, 182 and 210 220 are removedfrom the fixture 166. Also, the sleeves 202 surrounding the pegs 196 ofthe respective core posts 190 are removed. As shown more clearly in FIG.6, when the respective sleeves 208 are removed, the word drive lines 222lay loosely around the respective collars 202 which encircle the pegs196. As shown in FIG. 5, a potting frame 226 is secured to the uppersurface of fixture 166, as by screws 224, for example, thereby forming amold cavity 228 on the surface of sheet 170. The potting frame 226 maybe made in one integral piece or may have two or more abutting orintermeshing portions. The opening in frame 226 is just large enough toinclude within the mold cavity the apertures 186 in sheet which wereformerly occupied by the guideposts 182. Respective channels 230 areprovided in the lower surface portions of frame 226 which overlay therespective rows of terminal pads and 181. Alternatively, the channels230 may be filled with a resilient material, such as silicon rubber, forexample. A mold release material, such as fluorocarbon, for example, isapplied to the surface of frame 226 adjacent the mold cavity 228. Then,the mold cavity 228 is filled with a dielectric potting compound 229such as epoxy resin, for example, which may be applied by any convenientmeans, such as with a syringe 232, for example.

Another dielectric sheet 234, which is similar to sheet 170 less theterminal pad areas thereof, is provided with a plurality of holes 236which correspond to the respective holes 204 in sheet 170. The sheet 234is lowered over the fixture 166 and each hole 236 in sheet 234 slidinglyengages a respective peg 196. When the sheet 234 is pressed down on thedrive wires, such as 222, for example, the respective holes 236 engagethe upper ends of respective collars 202. As a result, the drive wires222 are pressed down around the collars 202 and the upper surface ofsheet 234 lies flush with the upper ends of the respective collars 202.Thus, it can be seen that the looseness of the drive lines around thecollars 202, as shown in FIG. 6, allows the drive lines to be presseddownward around the collars 202 without breaking. The sheet 234 may beheld in place by suitable means, such as a metallic plate (not shown)having holes which slidingly engage the respective pegs 196, forexample, and which rests on the upper surface of the potting frame 226.Therefore, the depth of the frame 226 and the mold cavity 228 is set bythe heighth of the collars 202 above the sheet 170. The entire assembly,fixture 166 and attached potting frame 226, is placed in an oven whichis heated to the proper temperature for curing the potting compound,such as 230 F for example. During the curing cycle, the potting compound229 expands slightly. Since the drive wires 222 are not tightly woundaround the collars 202, the expansion of the potting compound duringcuring does not break the drive lines. Thus, the sleeves 202 providesmooth surfaces around the pegs 196 during the winding process, and whenremoved, provide service loops in the word drive lines 222 which permitthe drive lines to be pressed down around the collars 202 when the sheet234 is assembled and allow the potting compound 229 to expand during thecuring cycle without breaking the respective drive lines. After asuitable curing time, such as three hours, for example, the assemblyincluding the fixture 166 and attached potting frame 222 is removed fromthe oven and allowed to cool to room temperature. If a metallic platehas been used to hold the sheet 234 in place, it is removed and thepotting frame 222 is disassembled. All the pegs 196 are removed from theencircling collars 202 which are now bonded between the sheets 170 and234, respectively, by the cured potting compound. When removed from thefixture 166, the resulting product is a data plane 238 having aplurality of word drive lines 222 embedded in the cured, dielectric,potting material 229 between the opposed dielectric sheets 170 and 234respectively. Data is stored permanently in the data plane 238 by thegeometry of the drive lines 222 which are disposed between and aroundthe dielectric collars 202 in accordance with respective unique windingpatterns.

One exposed end of each drive line 222 is attached to a respectiveterminal pad 180 on one extended portion of the data plane 238 and theother exposed end of each drive line 222 is attached to a respectiveterminal pad 181 on the opposing extended portion of the data plane 238.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the data plane 238 is adapted for use withferrite cores 240, each having a removable portion called a keeper.Although squareshaped ferrite cores 240 are shown in the preferredembodiment, the data plane 238 may be used with ferrite cores havingother configurations, such as circular cores having a removable arcuateportion, for example. The square-shaped ferrite cores 240 comprise a U-shaped portion 242 and a keeper bar 243 which spans the gap between thelegs of the U-shaped portion 242, thus providing a closed path for themagnetic flux generated by the core 240. When used with the data plane238 of this invention, a plurality of U-shaped core portions 242 aresupported, as by a fixture, for example, with the respective legsthereof in an upright position. The data plane 238 is lowered over theupright legs of the U-shaped core portions 242 and each collar 202 ofthe data plane 238 slidingly engages a leg of a U-shaped core portion242 as the data plane 238 descends. Thus, it can be seen that thecollars 202 prevent the drive lines 222 in the data plane fromprotruding into the apertures which receive the legs of the U-shapedcores 242. When the legs of the respective U-shaped core portions 242slidingly engage respective collars 202 of the data plane 238, the worddrive lines in the data plane are protected from the sharp corners ofthe core legs by the rigid material of the collars 202. After the dataplane 238 is assembled onto the upright legs of the respective magneticcores 240, the respective keeper portions 243 thereof are bonded to thelegs at the open ends thereof. Each keeper bar 242 has wound thereon, asense winding 244 comprising several turns of wire which is connected toa sense amplifier (not shown). The legs of the U-shaped core portions242 now occupy the apertures that were filled by the pegs 196 of thecore posts 190 during the winding process, and a' magnetic core 240 isnow disposed in each core position, 1-12 respectively, of the data plane236. As shown in FIG. 8, the word drive lines 222, which passed betweenthe parallel core posts 190 of a core position now thread through amagnetic core 240. On the other hand, the word drive lines that bypasseda core position, 1-12 respectively, pass around a respective magneticcore 240 now occupying that core position. An electrical current passingthrough a drive line which threads a magnetic core 240 causes the coreto switch from one magnetic remanence state to the other. As a result, apulse voltage is induced in the sense winding 244 of the core 240 andindicates a stored binary digit 1 for that core position. An electricalcurrent travelling through a drive line 222 which bypasses a magneticcore 240 does not switch that particular core. Consequently, no pulsevoltage is induced in the sense winding 244 of the bypassed core and theabsence thereof indicates a stored binary digit 0 for that coreposition. Thus, the data plane 238 with magnetic cores 240 assembledtherein comprises a memory plane which may be assembled with othersimilar memory planes to form a memory stack for a computer. The storeddata in a memory plane of this type can be changed by exchanging thedata plane 238 for another data plane of the same type but having drivewires therein which are wound differently. Thus, the magnetic cores 240can be used with other data planes of the same type. The pads and 181adjacent the respective edges 172 and 173 of the data plane 238 providemeans for making electrical connections to either of the respective endsof each drive wire in the data plane. Furthermore, the respective rowsof equally spaced pads 180 and 181 along the respective edges 172 and173 of the data plane 236 are adapted for automatic welding when makingelectrical connections to the respective drive lines in the data plane238.

Thus, there has been disclosed herein a wiring apparatus comprising anelectrical console having a programmable means for automaticallycontrolling a wiring machine having a coordinately movable tabledisposed beneath a reciprocating head having wire guiding means fordirecting a continuous wire toward the table. For use with the wiringapparatus, there has been disclosed a fixture having a base member and asuperimposed sheet of dielectric material carrying an array of smoothsurfaced core posts and guideposts for defining a plurality of corepositions in the final assembly and for directing the wire through thearray of core posts and over specific terminal pads on the dielectricsheet, respectively. Each core post has been described herein ascomprising a central peg having a reduced diameter portion encircled bya dielectric collar and surrounded by a sleeve of smooth-surfaceddielectric material. In illustrating the use of this fixture with thewiring apparatus, there has been disclosed herein a novel windingprocess comprising the steps of winding successive word drive lines inone continuous operation and passing each drive line over its respectivetermination pads, thus eliminating the need for identifying each driveline in the wire braid, subjecting the continuously wound wire to anelectrical continuity test to determine if a break in the wire hasoccurred during the winding process, terminating each drive line onrespective underlying terminal pads and removing the intervening lengthsof wire that connect the successive word drive lines. A subsequentfabrication process has been described herein as comprising the steps ofremoving all the guideposts from the fixture, removing all thedielectric sleeves from the core posts, securing a potting frame on thefixture, filling the resulting cavity with dielectric material, such asepoxy resin, for example, lowering another dielectric sheet over thepegs of the core posts and pressing down the respective word drive linesaround the dielectric collars, curing the potting material and removingthe potting frame. The resulting product has been disclosed herein as adata plane comprising a layer of dielectric material disposed betweenopposing dielectric sheets and having a plurality of dielectric conduitsperpendicularly disposed in the dielectric layer and defining respectivethrough holes in the data plane, and a plurality of word drive linesembedded in the dielectric layer, each word drive line being disposedbetween the respective dielectric conduits in a unique pattern andhaving exposed ends fixedly attached to respective terminal pads, whichare disposed on opposing extended portions of the data plane.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that all of the objectives ofthis invention have been achieved by the structures shown and described.It will be also apparent, however, that various changes may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims. It is to be understood,therefore, that all matter shown and described is to be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A process for making a fixed memory plane of braided wire type havinga plurality of apertured magnetic cores, each occupying a predeterminedcore position in said plane, and a plurality of individual conductivedrive lines, said drive lines selectively passing through the coreapertures, comprising the steps of continuously winding an endless wirealong an irregular path which selectively passes through said corepositions of the plane severing the wound wire at locations spaced alongthe length of said wound wire to form a plurality of asymmetric drivelines each having two ends, joining each end of the two ends of each ofthe drive lines to a respective terminal, and providing cores at each ofsaid core positions.

2. A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the wire is tested forelectrical continuity also while winding the drive lines.

1. A process for making a fixed memory plane of braided wire type havinga plurality of apertured magnetic cores, each occupying a predeterminedcore position in said plane, and a plurality of individual conductivedrive lines, said drive lines selectively passing through the coreapertures, comprising the steps of continuously winding an endless wirealong an irregular path which selectively passes through said corepositions of the plane severing the wound wire at locations spaced alongthe length of said wound wire to form a plurality of asymmetric drivelines each having two ends, joining each end of the two ends of each ofthe drive lines to a respective terminal, and providing cores at each ofsaid core positions.
 2. A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein thewire is tested for electrical continuity also while winding the drivelines.